Entry control system and entry control method

• US 8,093,988 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takene, Kouichi, Idemori, Kimito, Ikeda, Koichi, Seki, Yoshiro, Kishino, Fuminori, Yamamoto, Keiji, Sawada, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/892,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.63, 340/5.8
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

To provide an entry control system as well as an entry control method allowing for an easy entry of user, permitting a restriction to persons who have a legitimate right to enter a facility, an illuminating device (1) emits a modulated visible light signal 13 modulated by use of a door ID code into a preset illumination range, the modulated visible light signal 13 from the illuminating device (1) is received by a mobile terminal (2) portable by the user, where it is demodulated for wireless signal transmission, and the door ID code transmitted from the mobile terminal (2) is received by an authentication device (3), which judges whether or not the door ID code is legitimate, and generates an unlock command when the door ID code is judged to be legitimate, and a door (4) for a facility controlled of entry receives the unlock command from the authentication device (3), whereby it is unlocked.

Claims

1. An entry control system comprising:

an illuminating device configured to illuminate a preset illumination range;

a mobile terminal configured to be portable by a user;

an authentication device; and

a door provided for a facility controlled of entry, wherein

the illuminating device comprising;

a door ID code memory configured to store therein a door ID code assigned to the door as a unique ID code for use to unlock the door;

a modulator configured to generate a light modulation signal by using the door ID code stored in the door ID code memory; and

a light-emitting device configured to switch ON/OFF thereof to emit a modulated visible light signal modulated by the light modulation signal generated by the modulator, into the illumination range,

the mobile terminal comprising;

a light-receiving device configured to receive, when the terminal enters into the illumination range, the modulated visible light signal being emitted from the light-emitting device;

a demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated visible light signal received by the light-receiving device to the door ID code; and

a wireless signal transmitter configured to transmit the door ID code demodulated by the demodulator to the authentication device by use of wireless communication,

the authentication device comprising;

a wireless signal receiver configured to receive the door ID code transmitted from the wireless signal transmitter;

an authentication processor configured for an authentication process to judge whether the received door ID code is legitimate or not; and

an electronic key controller connected to the door, and adapted, when the received door ID code is judged to be legitimate in the authentication process at the authentication processor, to generate, and send to the door, an unlock command, and

the door comprising;

an electronic key configured to unlock with the unlock command received from the electronic key controller.

2. The entry control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the mobile terminal comprises a terminal ID code memory configured to store therein a terminal ID code assigned as unique information to the mobile terminal,

the wireless signal transmitter of the mobile terminal is configured to transmit the terminal ID code stored in the terminal ID code memory together with the door ID code to the authentication device,

the wireless signal receiver of the authentication device is configured to receive the terminal ID code together with the door ID code,

the authentication processor of the authentication device is configured for an authentication process to judge whether the door ID code and the terminal ID code are legitimate or not, and

the electronic key controller of the authentication device is adapted, when the door ID code and the terminal ID code are judged to be legitimate, to generate, and send to the door, the unlock command.

3. The entry control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the mobile terminal comprises a user ID code memory configured to store therein a user ID code for identification of the user,

the wireless signal transmitter of the mobile terminal is configured to transmit the user ID code stored in the user ID code memory together with the door ID code to the authentication device,

the wireless signal receiver of the authentication device is configured to receive the user ID code together with the door ID code,

the authentication processor of the authentication device is configured for an authentication process to judge whether the door ID code and the user identification data are legitimate or not, and

the electronic key controller of the authentication device is adapted, when the door ID code and the user ID code are judged to be legitimate, to generate, and send to the door, the unlock command.

4. The entry control system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the illuminating device comprises:

a timer configured for measurement of time; and

an updater configured to update the door ID code stored in the door ID code memory at intervals of a preset period depending on information on the measurement of time by the timer, and

the authentication device comprises;

an another light-receiving device configured to receive the modulated visible light signal emitted from the light-emitting device;

an another demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated visible light signal received by the another light-receiving device to the door ID code; and

a data collator configured for collation to judge whether or not the door ID code received by the wireless signal receiver from the mobile terminal and the door ID code demodulated by the another demodulator are coincident with each other, and under a judgment that they are coincident with each other, to output the coincident door ID code to the authentication processor.

5. The entry control system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the illuminating device and the authentication device are connected through a network to a controlling device,

the illuminating device comprises a first network interface configured for transmission and reception of data to and from the controlling device through the network,

the authentication device comprises a second network interface configured for transmission and reception of data to and from the controlling device through the network, and an authentication data memory configured to store therein an authentication data for use in authentication of a legitimate door ID code at the authentication processor, and

the controlling device comprises a data controller configured to transmit information for an update of the door ID code stored in the door ID code memory through the network and the first network interface, and to transmit information for an update of the authentication data stored in the authentication data memory through the network and the second network interface.

6. An entry control method comprising:

a door ID code storing step of storing, at a an illuminating device configured to illuminate a preset illumination range, storing a door ID code assigned to a door for a facility controlled of entry, as a unique ID code for use to unlock the door;

a light modulation signal generating step of generating, at the illuminating device, a light modulation signal by using the door ID code stored at the door ID code storing step;

a modulated visible light signal emitting step of switching, at the illuminating device, a light-emitting device ON/OFF by using the light modulation signal generated at the light modulation signal generating step to constantly emit a modulated visible light signal, into the illumination range;

a modulated visible light signal receiving step of receiving, at a mobile terminal configured to be portable by a user and when the terminal enters into the illumination range, the modulated visible light signal transmitted at the modulated visible light signal emitting step;

a modulated visible light signal demodulating step of demodulating, at the mobile terminal, the modulated visible light signal received at the modulated visible light signal receiving step to the door ID code;

a door ID code transmitting step of transmitting, at the mobile terminal, the door ID code demodulated at the modulated visible light signal demodulating step to an authentication device, by use of wireless communication;

a door ID code receiving step of receiving, at the authentication device, the door ID code transmitted at the door ID code transmitting step;

a door ID code judging step of judging, at the authentication device, whether or not the door ID code received at the door ID code receiving step is legitimate;

an unlock command sending step of generating and sending to the door, at the authentication device, an unlock command when the door ID code received at the door ID code receiving step is judged to be legitimate; and

an unlocking step of unlocking, at the door, an electronic key, when the unlock command sent at the unlock command sending step is received.

7. The entry control method as claimed in claim 6, comprising:

a terminal ID code storing step of storing, at the mobile terminal, a terminal ID code assigned as unique information to the mobile terminal into a terminal ID code memory;

the door ID code transmitting step comprising transmitting the terminal ID code stored in the terminal ID code memory together with the door ID code to the authentication device;

the door ID code receiving step comprising receiving the terminal ID code together with the door ID code;

the door ID code judging step comprising judging whether the door ID code and the terminal ID code are legitimate or not; and

the unlock command sending step comprising generating, and sending to the door, the unlock command when the door ID code and the terminal ID code are judged to be legitimate at the door ID code judging step.

8. The entry control method as claimed in claim 6, comprising:

a user ID code storing step of storing, at the mobile terminal, a user ID code as information for identification of the user,

the door ID code transmitting step comprising transmitting the user ID code together with the door ID code to the authentication device;

the door ID code receiving step comprising receiving the user ID code together with the door ID code;

the door ID code judging step comprising judging whether the door ID code and the user ID code are legitimate or not; and

the unlock command sending step comprising generating, and sending to the door, the unlock command when the door ID code and the user ID code are judged to be legitimate.

9. The entry control method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising:

a time measurement step of making a time measurement at the illuminating device;

an updating step of updating, at the illuminating device, the door ID code stored at the door ID code storing step at intervals of a preset period depending on information on the time measurement made at the time measurement step;

an another modulated visible light signal receiving step of receiving, at the authentication device, the modulated visible light signal transmitted at the modulated visible light signal transmitting step;

an another modulated visible light signal demodulating step of demodulating, at the authentication device, the modulated visible light signal received at the another modulated visible light signal receiving step to the door ID code; and

a collating step of collating, at the authentication device, the door ID code received at the door ID code receiving step and the door ID code demodulated at the another modulated visible light signal demodulating step, judging whether or not they are coincident with each other, and under a judgment that they are coincident, allowing a transition to the door ID code judging step.

10. The entry control method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the illuminating device and the authentication device are connected through a network to a controlling device, and the method comprises:

an authentication data storing step of storing, at the illuminating device, an authentication data for use in authentication of a legitimate door ID code at the door ID code judging step;

an update data transmitting step of transmitting, at the controlling device, information for an update of the door ID code stored at the door ID code storing step to the illuminating device, and information for an update of the authentication data stored in the authentication data storing step to the authentication device, as necessary;

a first receiving step of receiving, at the illuminating device, the information for the update of the door ID code through the network; and

another receiving step of receiving, at the authentication device, the information for the update of the authentication data through the network.